Chapter 14 - The Freight Line Ambush
Before we could even reach the courthouse steps, disaster struck our southern junction.
My phone buzzed violently with an alert from the automated telemetry system: *JUNCTION 4 BLOCKAGE — LINE HALTED.*
"Sarah, look," David said, showing me his tablet. A live security feed from our rail depot near the state line showed three heavy-duty tandem rigs deliberately parked across the main freight rail crossing, completely blocking the southbound grain and automotive convoy.
"Those aren't our trucks," I said, squinting at the grainy screen.
"No," David growled. "They belong to Mid-State Hauling. A subcontracting firm owned by Julian’s fraternity brother, Bradley Cooper. They staged an 'engine failure' right over the primary switch track. In less than an hour, thirty thousand tons of perishable cargo will spoil in the heat, triggering millions in performance penalties."
"They planned this simultaneously," I realized, the pieces snapping together. "Attack Leo's status in probate to freeze our money, and sabotage the southern corridor to drain our cash reserves in penalties. Julian wants to force me into a settlement before noon."
"I’ll handle the junction," David said, unbuttoning the cuffs of his work shirt and rolling them up his forearms. "I know the switchyard crew at Junction 4. I was their foreman for six years. We don't need a tow truck; we have a six-thousand-horsepower switcher locomotive on Track 2."
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I looked into David’s resolute, unwavering eyes and felt the surge of unstoppable partnership that held our world together. I reached up, cupping his jaw. "Don't break the law, David. But don't let them cost us a single dollar."
"They parked on a private federal right-of-way, sweetheart," David said with a hard, dangerous grin. "They're the ones trespassing. I’m just going to clear our tracks."
